Studies on the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA) test.

Abstract

The results of the Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody (FTA) and Treponema Pallidum Immobilization (TPI) tests were compared with over 3500 sera. Detailed analysis of the data revealed that the 2 tests showed an overall agreement in 89.5%. When sera give positive results with the FTA, Reiter protein complement fixation and reaginic tests, further confirmation by the TPI test is unnecessary. A negative FTA test makes treponemal infection unlikely, but does not exclude it, and a TPI test may be requred in such cases. The FTA test detected 2 separate antibodies, a group anti-treponemal antibody which can be removed by absorption with Reiter treponemes, and an antibody specific for T. pallidum which is left after such absorption.